Typhoon Soudelor lands on Southeast China's coastal province

Southeast Chinese province Fujian evacuated more than 160,000 people and 32,000 fishing boats in a bid to reduce damage to a minimum as typhoon Soudelor landed on the Chinese mainland Saturday night with strong gales and heavy rains.

After landing on Taiwan earlier Saturday and leaving at least six people dead, four missing and 102 injured, typhoon Soudelor hit Putian City in Fujian at 10:10 p.m. Saturday and is expected to storm through the province.

As of 1 p.m. Saturday, 163,200 people were evacuated onshore and 32,175 fishing vessels anchored at ports in the province.

Marine police in Fujian also saved 12 people from a Taiwan fishing vessel that lost power in the waters near the province on Saturday morning.

Precipitation in the provincial capital Fuzhou reached historical high on Saturday, with much of the downtown waterlogged.

More than 10,000 trees were toppled and traffic stalled on flooded streets. Slanted tree trunks and toppled branches were seen along major roads in downtown Fuzhou.

Heavy rains are still expected through Sunday morning in the northern part of Fujian, with precipitation reaching 350 mm through Monday.

Even before the Soudelor's landing on the Chinese mainland, strong gales have already caused power outages at more than 1.41 million household in the province. Maintenance staff resumed power for 347,000 households. Water supply to houses were also disrupted for several hours.

Much of the Fujian Province was drenched in rains of 100 to 250 mm on Saturday.

Flights to the provincial capital Fuzhou were canceled. About 100 trains running through the city of Xiamen suspended services. The airport in the city of Quanzhou also canceled its flights.

Strong gales are forecasted for much of the coastal region of the province from Saturday night through early Sunday.